Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Notice the fancy new design? No? Well, trust me, when you sober up, or put on your glasses, you will notice our A/R eB has a snazzy pop/retro look! But what is really important as always are the adverts from those who make this all possible. If you were drinking, you would tip the bartender, or if using somewhere you would "hit the house" -- well, the clean and sober version is simply called "Expression of Gratitude" and supporting those who cover the costs of you getting this for free.

In our latest edition, we get down to the real nitty gritty --90 lbs of cocaine (that's a good start), and how to make money off people having sex and enjoying themselves by making it seem like a problem that must be treated -- you know, along with the other two motivations in life FOOD and SHELTER. The rehabs who bring you this often controversial ebulletin have all been evaluated-- their checks cleared the bank. Hey, we are here to help and we can't do that without support and any facility daring enough to support us is our kind of place! So, read on and discover about pot shrinking your brain, and how most of what you believe about addiction is nonsense.

This introduction to the A/D eB was written by Burl Barer who is on the advisory board of Writers in Treatment who is solely responsible for his rants.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 | That Was the Week That Was | Volume 2. No. 13

Writers in Treatment

REEL Recovery Film Festival

Addiction & Recovery eBulletin website

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Betty Ford Just Went to a Naval Hospital

World's Most Peculiar Drug Rehab Centers

Being
put into a coma might not seem an obvious choice to someone looking to
overcome their addiction to drugs, but it is one option on offer. Here
is a flavour of the world's less usual rehab centers and their methods.
Many celebrities choose luxurious facilities to cure their addictions.
One of the most famous is the Betty Ford clinic in America, where Pete
Doherty (pictured) and other famous musicians or actors check in
regularly.The clinic provides clients with lavish facilities and the
feeling of staying in a hotel.CONTINUED

Connections In HIGH Places

90 Pounds Of Cocaine Found On Ship Owned By Senator Mitch McConnell's Family

A
cargo ship connected to Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell was recently
stopped and searched before departing from Colombia. During the search,
Colombian Coast Guard agents seized roughly 90 pounds of cocaine. Read
more at
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/90-pounds-cocaine-cargo-ship-owned-anti-drug-senators-family.
The drugs were found on the Ping May, a vessel operated by the Foremost
Maritime Corporation, a company owned by Mitch McConnell's in-laws, the
Chao family. It is not only relevant because the Chao family has often
made large donations to McConnell's campaigns. CONTINUED

Does It Include Naloxone ? VIDEO

Arizona University Installs Prescription Drug Vending Machine VIDEO

School
officials didn't specify exactly what kind of drugs will be available
in the machine, but said it would contain 50 medications that are most
commonly prescribed to college studentsPreviously, the InstyMeds vending
machines were only placed in emergency rooms, out-patient surgery
offices and urgent-care offices, KPNX reports. ASU is the second
university to get such a machine, according to company officials, with
Florida State University having one as well. CONTINUED

PENALTY: Roughing The Pusher

DEA Stages Raid of Visiting NFL Teams' Painkiller Use VIDEO

The
Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating claims of
inappropriate distribution of painkillers by NFL teams, following a
recent lawsuit filed by former NFL players, and have agents on site at
several NFL stadiums Sunday to question team doctors and trainers,
according to a law enforcement source. DEA agents were on site, without
notice, to approach the medical staffs of the visiting teams at games
and ensure all laws pertaining to the controlled substances are being
followed as per the Controlled Substances Act. CONTINUED

Kanpai

Japan Finally Takes a Look at Alcohol Abuse

An
estimated 10 million people were meanwhile found to have potential
dependency issues - drinking more than 60 grams of alcohol a day, the
equivalent of three midsize bottles of beer. But only around 40,000 seek
treatment, Higuchi said. There is the All Nippon Abstinence Association
(Zen Nihon Danshu Renmei), a support group for recovering alcoholics.
The group has branches all over Japan and holds meetings where
recovering alcoholics and family members attend and share their
experiences. CONTINUED

For Whom the Bong Tolls

Regular Pot Smokers Have Shrunken Brains

According
to a team of scientists marijuana users had "significantly less volume"
to their orbitofrontal cortex, a region of the brain that is critical
to how a person processes reward, motivation and addictive decisions.
Researchers noted that the IQ of the marijuana-using group was
significantly lower than that of the non-using group--not a finding of
the study, but an incidental factor that might be indirectly linked to
marijuana use. CONTINUED

6.9 Billion Is A Lot of Money

Mother's Little Anti-Psychotic Is Worth $6.9 Billion A Year

Abilify,
the powerful anti-psychotic medication that's now widely used to treat
depression. From April 2013, through March 2014, sales of Abilify
(official name, aripriprazole) totaled $6,885,243,368-that's right,
almost $6.9 billion. That's more than all other major anti-depressants
combined. And yet, the FDA says that the way Abilify works is "unknown."
Unknown! As in, we have no idea why this medication seems to help
people with bipolar disorder. But go ahead and try it anyway, since it
seems to work somehow. CONTINUED

In The (Court) Rooms

Hollywood Rehab Leaders Go Another Round in Court

Lightning-rod entrepreneur Alex Shohet
has recovered attorneys' fees in his long-running dispute with former
business partner Dr. Howard Samuels.The acrimonious dissolution of the
partnership, has woven its way through court since the beginning of the
Obama administration, devolving most recently into a tit-for-tat battle
over the recovery of court costs. On Oct. 6, U.S. District Judge Dolly
M. Gee ruled that Shohet should receive his full requested $23,373.73 -
as opposed to the $12,238.67 Samuels wanted.CONTINUED

Accidents Can Happen

Investigation Continues Into Rehab Center Patient's Death

The
investigation continues today into the death of a rehab facility
patient who was discovered in a pond over the weekend. Michael Cameron
was found dead Sunday morning in a pond near the Another Way Recovery
Home in Farmington where he was getting treatment for drug addiction.
According to state police, another patient found the 21-year-old's body
just before 8 a.m. Family said Cameron had been at the facility for
almost two months. CONTINUED

The Ultimate 'Group Conscious'

Election Proved We Need More Recovering Alcoholics and Addicts in Politics

Addiction
can make people behave terribly and leave a trail of ugly damage in
their wake. The antidote for such a poisonous existence? First it's just
about getting clean and sober, but then it's about changing one's
behaviors and living a better life. Living well, treating others well,
and becoming a better human being. That's the long-term antidote, and
it's made up of some fundamental ingredients that are patently lacking
in contemporary American politics. CONTINUED

Accidents Can Happen

Investigation Continues Into Rehab Center Patient's Death

The
investigation continues today into the death of a rehab facility
patient who was discovered in a pond over the weekend. Michael Cameron
was found dead Sunday morning in a pond near the Another Way Recovery
Home in Farmington where he was getting treatment for drug addiction.
According to state police, another patient found the 21-year-old's body
just before 8 a.m. Family said Cameron had been at the facility for
almost two months. CONTINUED

The Ultimate 'Group Conscious'

Election Proved We Need More Recovering Alcoholics and Addicts in Politics

Addiction
can make people behave terribly and leave a trail of ugly damage in
their wake. The antidote for such a poisonous existence? First it's just
about getting clean and sober, but then it's about changing one's
behaviors and living a better life. Living well, treating others well,
and becoming a better human being. That's the long-term antidote, and
it's made up of some fundamental ingredients that are patently lacking
in contemporary American politics. CONTINUED

It's a Start

Ohio to Invest $10M in Housing for Addiction Recovery

"The
opiate crisis has effectively changed the face of addiction in many
communities, and making these timely investments undoubtedly will
improve access to treatment, recovery and stability," saidTracy Plouck,
director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
CONTINUED

It's All About Pu*sy VIDEO

What An Alcohol Ad Looks Like When It Actually Is Honest VIDEO

South
Park took a break from its classic flat animation style for a satirical
look at the confusing message alcohol advertisements send. Ah,
hypocrisy in advertising. We meet again. CONTINUED

Where Is National Guard Or CDC? VIDEO

York County Heroin Overdose Death Toll Reaches 43 This Year VIDEO

Young
people dying from Heroin is being called an epidemic across the nation,
and in Pennsylvania. It takes lives and destroys families. Members of
the York County Heroin Task Force are ramping up their efforts to stop
the spread of the problem. "It's a drastic increase. It's scary," said
York County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Dave Sunday. CONTINUED

Not A Survivor

Jimi Jamison Died From Stroke With Methamphetamine Intoxication

According
to the report obtained by Billboard.com, it states that Jamison was
suffering from cardiovascular disease and narrowing of the arteries,
which the coroner believes resulted in a heart attack. The autopsy found
that the rocker died of a hemorrhagic brain stroke, with "acute
methamphetamine intoxication contributing". In addition to his time with
Survivor, he was a member of Target and Cobra, and also co-writer and singer of Baywatch theme, I'm Always Here. CONTINUED

Elizabeth
Barnes has seen the darker side of pain killers. She lived the American
dream. She was a wife, mother, and owner of a multi-million dollar
business. Then, she lost it all. Barnes says, "The first thing I thought
was, 'I'm not an addict. I'm not on the street and buying them and
doing them illegally.'" But Barnes spent 11 years taking powerful
prescriptions. "OxyContin, oxycodone, dalotta," she said. "I tried it
all." CONTINUED

MEDIA: TED TALKS "regulate it" VIDEO

Why We Need to End the War on Drugs VIDEO

Is the War on Drugs doing more harm than good? In a bold talk, drug policy reformist Ethan Nadelmann
makes an impassioned plea to end the "backward, heartless, disastrous"
movement to stamp out the drug trade. He gives two big reasons we should
focus on intelligent regulation instead. CONTINUED

Anonymous No More

Celebrating the Proud Life of Harold J. LeVesconte

"His
AA birthday was May 1, 1969. Harold went on to work as an alcoholism
counselor in several facilities including the US Navy Hospital at Great
Lakes, Ill., where he tried to "dry out the Navy." He was active in the
Alcoholics Anonymous movement from 1969 until his death, serving in a
number of capacities in his AA communities and shepherding many
newcomers into sobriety. In 1986, Harold married Lois Fiedler and the
two made San Jose their new home. Here, Harold continued his work as an
alcoholism counselor and his participation in the AA community. On May
1, 2014, he achieved 45 years of sobriety, and celebrated on that
occasion as a beloved elder statesman in the AA community. CONTINUED

Sisyphus Drops The Rock

NAATP Chief, Michael Walsh, Says Goodbye

As
Michael Walsh prepares to transition out of his role as the president
and CEO of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
(NAATP), he has some ideas for the organization's next leader: Earn the
members' trust and support. "When I came in, members had questions and
concerns, and I did the best job I could to alleviate those concerns,"
Walsh says. "Whoever comes in next will need the support of the
membership because it's a changing time in our industry right now."
Walsh is leaving after a two-and-a-half year tenure with NAATP. A search
committee has been formed to identify qualified candidates to fill the
position. Read the announcement of Michael Walsh's departure from NAATP here. CONTINUED

Beyond 12 Steps

NIAAA Gives Guidance On Treatment Options For Alcohol Problems

"The
popular concept of alcohol treatment is often limited to knowledge of
28-day inpatient rehab or 12-step programs," said NIAAA Director Dr.
George Koob, Ph.D. "In fact there are diverse treatment options of which
people may be less aware, and many of which can be undertaken with
minimal disruption to home and work life. A greater understanding of
these options represents a contemporary approach to this problem and an
important step toward improving the way we treat alcohol addiction." CONTINUED

Patient # 237512

90% of Doctors Don't Appropriately Monitor Children on ADHD Meds

"The
quality of care seems to be very low and not in accord with American
Academy of Pediatrics guidelines," lead author Jeffery Epstein, director
of the Center for ADHD, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at
Cincinnati Children's Hospital, told Medical Xpress. Epstein called the
findings "disturbing." CONTINUED

Half Measures Availed Us...Relief? VIDEO

Does Methadone Work To Stop Heroin Addiction?

"We
treat basically clients that have an opiate based addiction, usually
heroin or pills," said the facility's Executive Director Virgil
McDaniel. The clinic uses methadone or Suboxone, drugs that stop a
heroin addict from craving heroin or from going through withdraw. CONTINUED

MOM Walks Into AA Meeting... VIDEO

...

Recovery With a Laugh Track VIDEO

Sitcoms
about alcoholics and addicts are not the norm for network TV. What Mom
does, and does exceptionally well, is to engage viewers regardless of
whether or not their lives have been impacted by the devastating effects
of drugs and alcohol, of teenage pregnancy and broken families. It's
the universality of the series that sustains it and nourishes the
audience's investment in its characters and, most importantly perhaps,
keeps the laughs coming. Its humor is a salve that heals, no matter what
each person's situation. CONTINUED

Finally,
Dr. Sarah Zemore and colleagues tackle the highly practical issue of
which particular 12-step activities, such as having and using an AA
sponsor, having more 12-step members among your friends, and reading AA
literature, impact outcomes and therefore might be more strongly
prescribed in professionally delivered TSF interventions. Using data
from a MAAEZ intervention study, the authors found that while some
12-step activity variables were associated with outcomes at various
follow-up points, it was only AA meeting attendance and an AA sponsor
that consistently predicted better outcomes over a 12-month follow-up
period. CONTINUED

Shillin' For Phil - Tune In VIDEO

YouTube Star "Homeless Joe" Goes MIA After 9 Days In Rehab VIDEO

The
homeless millennial who gained fame for scoring sleepovers with women
to stay off the streets of New York City has gone missing. "Homeless
Joe," as he became known, who consumed up to 30 drinks a day, even came
on Dr. Phil under the influence. "I do homelessness differently," he maintained. "This abstract lifestyle is not for everybody. Dr. Phil offered to send Joe to a rehab facility, but Joe left after only nine days. CONTINUED

Fiction. Really. It's a TV Show.

Amelia Shepherd (NA Member) May Be On the Hospital's Chopping Block

Recovery
from addiction is very difficult and challenging process. One of the
key practices of AA and NA groups is so that the recovering addicts
remain anonymous to the public, it seems one member didn't quite get the
memo. But much like patient confidentiality, there is a similar premise
involved with Narcotics Anonymous. Overreacting the way Sarah did could
absolutely screw up everything Amelia has worked for. Amelia's
struggled with addiction in the past, but since her move to Seattle
she's certainly made a great turn around. CONTINUED

Hunger Games

Food Junkies: The Truth about Food Addiction

Rather
than trying to receive gratification from food or any other addictive
substance, turning that desire toward connecting with others placates
that ache. By virtue of being human, we all have the need to be in
relationships. By sharing our humanity, we can bond with others and feed
our own soul. We are then able to feel full at last; the bottomless pit
that food addicts experiences can then fade like a bad dream. CONTINUED

Celebrity Addict VIDEO

Celebrity Star: Crack Addiction was Tougher Than The Jungle VIDEO

Craig
Charles says overcoming drug addiction was far tougher than anything
he'll face in the I'm a Celebrity Jungle. The Coronation Street star was
famously caught smoking crack cocaine by the Mirror in 2006, and has
since admitted blowing £250,000 on his habit. Speaking about entering
the jungle, he said: "To be honest, I'm not going in there with a sense
of fear of anything. "I'm not scared of heights, I'm not scared of
snakes or rats or spiders; I'm not scared of anything, really, that I
know of. CONTINUED

Hope She's Not a Locksmith

Are You an Ex-aholic?

Love
is a drug. That's why we're all here, isn't it? It's also why getting
over an ex can feel like kicking heroin: intense cravings, the desperate
need to use, the isolation and obsession. But what differentiates a
"normal" sad-and-missing-my-ex situation from self-diagnosing as an
"Exaholic"? It's a term that sounds ripped from an SNL skit, but in
fact, Exaholics have a fast-growing online support group with a 12-step
program. Relationships tend to have an addictive quality. It's been
demonstrated that romantic love activates the same region of the brain
as cocaine and alcohol. CONTINUED

MEDIA: Book of the Week

Inner Strength and Resilience Conquer Mental Illness and Alcoholism in New Novel

Callum
Mor, a gifted child, master mariner, derelict drunk, who eventually
gains wisdom from a hard life's journey. He enters the dark zone of
alcoholism and withdraws from society. With only his animals keeping him
this side of sanity, he survives in a bleak solitude. "Redemption" is
an allegory for depression and life difficulties that he himself once
experienced. The novel, which is set off the northwest coast of
Scotland, illuminates startling cycles of maturing and downfall
experienced by the book's main character - Callum Mor - a gifted child,
master mariner, derelict drunk, who finally gains wisdom from a hard
life's journey. CONTINUED

Family Of Origin VIDEO

Brooke Shields and Her Alcoholic Mom VIDEO

Brooke
Shields has been famous since she was 11 months old. From her first
Ivory Soap commercial to her teen modeling to her controversial movies
to her headline-grabbing romances, she's lived her entire life in the
spotlight - just as her mother, Teri, a bus driver's daughter from New
Jersey, wanted. Brassy and bold, Teri was also a lifelong alcoholic... CONTINUED

Myth Busted

Five Biggest Myths About Drug Addiction

Medical
Expert Reveals Fiction Vs. Fact About Heroin, Cocaine, Meth and
Marijuana. Given that the study destroyed two popular beliefs about
addiction, we thought it high time (pardon the pun) to explore whether
there might be other myths to be busted. Dr. Akikur Mohammad, M.D., a
physician specializing in addiction medicine. CONTINUED

Beyond The Rooms VIDEO

Russell Brand on Revolution, Fighting Inequality and Addiction

I
became a drug addict, I think, because of emotional difficulties,
psychological difficulties, and perhaps a spiritual malady. For me,
taking drugs and excessive drinking were the result of a psychological,
spiritual or mental condition, so they're symptomatic. I was like sad,
lonely, unhappy, detached, and drugs and alcohol, for me, seemed like a
solution to that problem. Once I dealt with the emotional, spiritual,
mental impetus, I no longer felt the need to take drugs or use drugs. CONTINUED

Very Tasty... Food For Thought

All or Nothing Is Chef Jesse Schenker's Addiction-Fueled Culinary Memoir

Jesse
Schenker does nothing to dispel the romance of the badass chef in his
new culinary memoir All or Nothing: One Chef's Appetite for the Extreme
In what ends up becoming a tale of redemption and moderation, All or
Nothing finds Schenker in a completely different place by the end of the
book. Having lived his young life as if each moment could make or break
him, the author actively chooses to make some critical changes,
recognizing the unsustainability of his choices. CONTINUED

WRITERS IN TREATMENT

Writers In Treatment501 (c)(3) nonprofit

REEL RECOVERY FILM FESTIVAL
is a social, educational, networking and recovery forum showcasing
first-time filmmakers and experienced professionals who make films about
addiction and recovery. Our audience is treatment professionals, people
in recovery, members of the entertainment industry, media
representatives, educated moviegoers and the general public.

Addiction/Recovery eBulletin Publisher & Editor:

Leonard Buschel

No Kidding!

WHO: Overdose Antidote Should Be Easier to Obtain

Countries
should increase access to the overdose antidote naloxone in order to
lower deaths from opioids around the world, the World Health
Organization (WHO) says in recently released guidelines. Naloxone is
used in an emergency when an individual is overdosing from opioids like
heroin, oxycodone and morphine. In the U.S. alone,naloxone has stopped
10,171 overdoses between 2006 and 2010. CONTINUED